Coin-controlled hair spray



1967 B. c. WILLIAMS 3,300,092

COIN-CONTROLLED HAIR SPRAY Filed May 7, 1965 H 44 t i 35 K g INVENTOR BETTY C. V/ZA/A'Md? F762 2 BY Patented Jan. 24, 1967 This invention relates to coin-operated dispensing devices, and more particularly to an automatic coin-operated hair spray dispenser.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved coin-operated dispensing apparatus for delivering a metered quantity of hair spray liquid, the apparatus being suitable for installation in various public places and being conveniently available for use by women, as required, the apparatus being relatively simple in construction, being adapted to employ commercially packed containers of spray material which can be readily inserted in the apparatus, as required, and being so arranged that the spray material is economically and efficiently utilized with minimum leakage or loss.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved coin-operated apparatus for dispensing hair spray liquid, the apparatus being compact in size, being inexpensive to manufacture, being easy to operate, and being neat in appearance.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved coin-operated dispenser for hair spray liquid, the dispenser being provided with timing means to provide a timed discharge of hair spray material therefrom when the apparatus is operated, the apparatus being safe to use and being reliable in operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved coin-operated dispensing machine for delivering a timed discharge of hair spray material from a reservoir of such material contained in the apparatus, the apparatus being provided with automatically-operating indicator means to show when the contents of the reservoir of spray material are substantially depleted, and being further provided with easily-operated means for removing a depleted reservoir and for replacing same with one which is full.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an improved coinoperated dispenser of hair spray liquid constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a generally schematic View showing on an.

enlarged scale the supporting means and replenishment indicator for the hair spray liquid container and the discharge nozzle associated with the apparatus of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an electrical wiring diagram showing the circuit connections of the electrical elements employed in the coin-operated hair spray liquid dispensing apparatus of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawing, 11 generally designates a typical embodiment of an improved coin-operated hair spray dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus 11 comprises a generally rectangular housing 12 provided on its front wall with a mirror 13 and with a vertical recess 14 adjacent the mirror adapted to contain a flexible conduit 15 provided at its end with a discharge nozzle 16. The nozzle 16 is shaped so that it may be easily held by a user, said nozzle comprising a rigid outer housing 17 containing a valve body 18, as shown in FIGURE 2, the valve body being provided with an outlet passage 19 in which is mounted a conduit fitting 20, one end of the flexible conduit 15 being connected to said conduit fitting. The valve body 18 is formed with a reduced bore which is axially aligned with the chamber 19, said reduced bore being shown at 21, and slidably and sealingly mounted therein is a plunger 22, said plunger being provided with resiliently-formed sealing rings 23 which seal the plunger relative to the inside surfaces of the bore 21. As shown in FIGURE 2, the sealing rings 23 are located at the lower portion of the plunger 22, but are spaced a substantial distance from a valve disc 24 carried by the depending reduced shank portion 25 of the plunger, said disc portion 24 being urged into sealing engagement with the annular shoulder defined between chamber 19 and bore 21 by the action of a coiled spring 26 bearing between the disc 24 and the top end of the conduit fitting 20. A restricted discharge passage 27 is provided in the wall of body 18 which connects the lower portion of bore 21 with the atmosphere, said passage 27 serving as the discharge orifice for the nozzle assembly and allowing liquid hair spray material to discharge therefrom responsive to downward movement of the disc 24 relative to the shoulder defined between chamber 19 and bore 21.

An upstanding supporting lug 28 is provided on the body 18, and pivoted thereto at 29 is a lever 30. One end of the lever 30 is pivotally connected to the top end of the plunger 22, as viewed in FIGURE 2, and the other end of the lever 30 is pivotally connected to the plunger 31 of a solenoid 32 mounted in the body 18. When solenoid 32 is energized, it elevates its plunger 31, whereby lever 30 depresses plunger 22 and unseats the valve disc 24, allowing liquid material to discharge through the nozzle orifice 27.

Located in the housing 12 and supported therein in any suitable manner is an upright frame 33 having a top wall 34, a bottom wall'35, and spaced sidewalls 36 defining therebetween a chamber 37 adapted to receive a commercially packaged container 38 of liquid hair spray material packed under pressure. Designated at 39 is a supporting shelf or platform which is disposed in the lower portion of the chamber 37, being loosely secured therein by transverse bolts 40, 40 extending through opposite vertical slots 41, 41 provided in the end portions of said member 39. A clamping screw 42 is threadedly engaged through the bottom wall 35, said screw being provided with a bearing foot 43 engageable with the bottom of the shelf member 39. The outer end of screw 42 is provided with an operating handle 44 which is readily accessible for rotating the screw 42, whereby to exert upward pressure on the shelf member 39. The top wall 34 is provide-d in its bottom surface with a resiliently-deformable sealing block 46 which is suitably recessed to receive the top end of the container 38. Fixedly mounted in said top wall 34 is a depending hollow prong or nipple 47 whose sharpened bottom end depends below the face of the cavity in the block 46 and which is engageable with the top end of the container 38 to pierce same when the container 38 is forced upwardly by the tightening of the screw 42. Thus, the shelf member 39 is provided with a seat or recess 49 shaped to receive the bottom end of the container 38 and to hold the container in proper position for making sealin-g engagement with the resilient deformable block 46. When the container is first positioned in the seat 49 with the shelf member 39 in its lowered position, the top end of the container is located so as to be moved into the receiving cavity 50 in the block 46 when the shelf member 39 is elevated. By tightening the screw 42, the shelf member 39 may then be elevated to move the top end of the container against the surface of the recess 50 and to force the fixed hollow nipple 47 into the top wall of the container, piercing the container and connecting it to said nipple. The nipple 47 communicates with a passage 51 formed in the top wall 34, leading to a conduit fitting 52. Conduit 15 is connected to said conduit 3 52, whereby passage 51 is placed in communication with the chamber 19 in the nozzle body 18.

Mounted on the top wall 34 is an indicator chamber 53 which communicates with the passage 51 and which contains a slida'ble piston 54 carrying at its top end a conductive disc 55 which is normally urged against the bottom end of an adjustable stop screw 56 threadedly engaged in the top wall of chamber 53, the disc 55 being held against the stop screw by the fluid pressure normally existing in passage 51 when the nipple 47 is placed in communication with the interior of a charged container 38 of low pressurized hair spray liquid, at a pressure of approximately 8 to pounds per square inch. When the container becomes depleted, the pressure acting on piston element 54 decreases, and eventually allows the conductive disc 55 to descend and engage a pair of spaced stationary contacts 57 and 58. An indicating lamp '59 is connected in series with said stationary contacts and a pair of supply-line conductors 66 and 61, whereby the lamp 5-9 lbecornes energized when conductive disc 55 bridges contacts 57 and .58, indicating that the container 38 is depleted and requires replacement.

The housing 12 is provided with a coin slot 62 leading to a conventional coin-operated switch 63, the coinreceiving mechanism being of conventional constnuction and being of any well-known type, for example, the type provided with an operating lever 64 which actuates the mechanism to momentarily close the coin switch 63 after a proper coin has been deposited in the slot 62. The mechanism includes a coin-return chute 65 for returning unacceptable coins.

Mounted in the housing 12 are respective relays 66 and 67. The relay 66 is provided with the poles 68 and 69 which engage respective stationary contacts 70 and 71 in the normal de-energized condition of the relay. When the relay is energized, the poles 68 and 69 are engageable with respective bottom contacts 72 and 73.

The relay 67 is provided with the movable poles 74 and 75. In the normal de-energized condition of relay 67, the poles 74 and 75 normally engage respective upper contacts 76 and 77. When relay 67 becomes enengized the poles 74 and 75 move into engagement with respect to lower contacts 78 and 79.

Line wire 60 is connected to the pole 68. Wire 60 is connected through a rectifier '80 and a resistor 81 to one terminal of the coin-controlled switch 63. A filter capacitor '82 is connected between the junction of rectifier 80 and resistor 81 and line wire 61.

One terminal of relay 66 is connected by a wire 83 to stationary relay contact 77, the associated pole 75 of relay 67 being connected by a wire 84 to line wire 61. The remaining terminal of relay 66 is connected by a wire 85 to the pole 74 of relay 67. The remaining terminal of coin switch 63 is connected to the wire 85, as by a wire 86. Thus, the closure of coin switch 63 energizes relay 66 through a circuit comprising line wire 60, rectifier '80, resistor 81,, coin switch 63, wire 86, wire 85, the winding of relay 66, wire 83, contact 77, pole 75, wire '84 and line wire 61. Relay 66 is held energized by a holding circuit including wire 85, a wire 87, the stationary contact 73, pole 69,, and a wire '88 connected to the junction between switch 63 and resistor 81, this holding circuit shunting the coin switch 63.

One terminal of relay 67 is connected by a wire 88 to line wire 61. The other terminal of the relay 67 is connected to a wire 89, said wire being connected through a-normally open timer switch 90 to a wire 91. Wire 91 is connected to upper contact 76 of relay 67. The pole 74, normally engaging contact 76, is connected to wire 85.

- When Wire 85 is connected to line wire 60 by the energization of relay 66, a circuit is established for initiating the operation of the timer switch 90. Thus, this circuit comprises wire 85, pole 74, contact 76, wire 91, the circuitry of the timer 90, wire 89, the winding of relay 67, wire 88, and line wire 61. After a predetermined time period, which may be adjusted within a suitable range, for example, from 0 to 25 seconds, the normally open switch element of time assembly closes, connecting wire 89 directly to wire 8-5 through wire 91, contact 76, and pole 74, causing relay 67 to become energized and opening the circuit of relay 66 at pole 75 and contact 77. This also establishes an energizing circuit for the relay 67 at contact 78 and pole 74 to assure energization of relay 67.

The relay 66 thus becomes energized for a predetermined time period, responsive to the closure of the coin switch 63, determined by the setting of the adjustable timer 90. Means are provided for energizing the hair spray discharge solenoid 32 at any time during this time period. Thus, a control switch 95 is provided in the housing 17, consisting of a push button-operated contact element 96 engageable with a stationary contact 97 mounted in a switch housing 98 secured on body 18. The operating push button 99 projects from the housing 17 in a position to be engaged by the users finger. With relay 66 energized, closure of switch 95 energizes solenoid 32 through a circuit comprising line wire 60, pole 68, contact 72, a wire 100 leading to one terminal of switch 95, a Wire 101 leading to one terminal of solenoid 32, and the line wire 61, connected to the opposite terminal of solenoid 32. Hair s ray liquid may thus be dispensed from the nozzle member 16 throughout the time period provided up to the closure of the switch incorporated in the timer mechanism 90. At the end of this time period, which, as mentioned above, may be adjusted to any value within a suitable range, for example, from 0 to 25 seconds, the energization of relay 67 opens the circuit of relay 66 at contacts 75-77, as above-mentioned, releasing the relay 66 and re-establishing its initial condition whereby it cannot be re-energized until coin switch 63 is again closed. The timer mechanism 90 is also deenergized and re-sets to its initial condition, preparatory to the next operation thereof. Relay 67 becomes deenergized by the opening of contacts 6973 of relay 66. Thus, all the elements return to their original starting conditions and are ready for another operation of the apparatus which can be initiated by inserting a proper coin in the slot 62 and operating the actuating member 64 of the mechanism.

The timer 90 is of conventional construction and in itself does not form any part of the present invention. It is merely typical of various commercially available timer mechaisms of the type incorporating a normally open switch which closes at a predetermined time following the energization of the timer.

An important feature of the apparatus of the present invention is that it supplies the hair spray liquid at a substantially constant pressure for the entire dispensing interval. This is an important advantage over previouslyused systems where there is a rapid pressure decay when the spray material is released by the user. The loss of adequate pressure results in poor or no atomization of the hair spray at some point in the dispensing interval.

While a specific embodiment of an improved hair spray liquid dispensing device has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid dispensing device comprising a supply reservoir containing liquid under pressure, a spray discharge nozzle, conduit means connecting said nozzle to said reservoir and including an electrically-operated normally closed control valve, an energizing circuit, first relay means, circuit means connecting said energizing circuit to said control valve responsive to energization of said first relay means, a holding circuit for said first relay means closed responsive to the energization of said first relay means,

second relay means, means opening said holding circuit responsive to energization of said second relay means, means to energize said first relay means, and means to energize said second relay means responsive to a predetermined time period of energization of said first relay means, whereby to open said holding circuit.

2. A liquid dispensing device comprising a supply reservoir containing liquid under pressure, a spray discharge nozzle, conduit means connecting said nozzle to said reservoir and including an electrically-operated normally closed control valve, an energizing circuit, first relay means, a holding circuit for said first relay means closed responsive to the energization of said first relay means, circuit means connecting said energizing circuit to said control valve responsive to energization of said first relay means, second relay means, means opening said holding circuit responsive to energization of said second relay means, means including a coin-operated switch to energize said first relay means, and means to energize said second relay means responsive to a predetermined time period of energization of said first relay means, whereby to open said holding circuit.

3. A liquid dispensing device comprising a supply reservoir containing liquid under pressure, a spray discharge nozzle, conduit means connecting said nozzle to said reservoir and including an electrically-operated normally closed control valve, an energizing circuit, a first relay, a holding circuit for said first relay closed responsive to the energization of said first relay, circuit means connecting said energizing circuit to said control valve responsive to energization of said first relay, a second relay, means opening said holding circuit responsive to energization of said second relay, means to energize said first relay, means including a normally open timed electrically-operated switch connecting said energizing circuit to said second relay, said timed switch closing a predetermined period after its energization, and means to energize said timed switch simultaneously with the energization of the first relay, whereby to open said holding circuit at the end of said predetermined period.

4. A liquid dispensing device comprising a supply reservoir containing liquid under pressure, a spray discharge nozzle, conduit means connecting said nozzle to said reservoir and including an electrically-operated normally closed control valve, an energizing circuit, a first relay, a holding circuit for said relay closed responsive to the energization of said first relay, circuit means connecting said energizing circuit to said control valve responsive to energization of said first relay, a second relay, means opening said holding circuit responsive to energization of said second relay, means including a coin-operated switch to energize said first relay, means including a normally open electrically-operated timed switch connecting said energizing circuit to said second relay, said timed switch closing a predetermined period after its energization, and means to energize said timed switch simultaneously with the energization of the first relay, whereby to open said holding circuit at the end of said predetermined period.

5. A liquid dispensing device comprising a supply reservoir containing liquid under pressure, a spray discharge nozzle, conduit means connecting said nozzle to said reservoir and including an electrically-operated normally closed control valve, an energizing circuit, a first relay, a holding circuit for said first relay closed responsive to the energization of said first relay, circuit means connecting said energizing circuit to said control valve responsive to energization of said first relay, a second relay, means opening said holding circuit responsive to energization of said second relay, means to energize said first relay, means including a normally open electrically-operated timed switch connecting said energizing circuit to said second relay, said timed switch closing a predetermined period after its energization, means to energize said timed switch simultaneously with the energization of the first relay, whereby to open said holding circuit at the end of said predetermined period, an indicating circuit, a fluid pressure-controlled switch operatively connected to said conduit means, and means to energize said indicating circuit through said fluid pressure-controlled switch.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,546,879 3/ 1951 Wegman. 2,913,087 11/1959 Lamb 19413 2,967,644 1/ 1961 Barber et a1.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,090,080 3/ 1955 France.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

HADDS. LANE, Examiner. 

1. A LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE COMPRISING A SUPPLY RESERVOIR CONTAINING LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE, A SPRAY DISCHARGE NOZZLE, CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTING SAID NOZZLE TO SAID RESERVOIR AND INCLUDING AN ELECTRICALLY-OPERATED NORMALLY CLOSED CONTROL VALVE, AN ENERGIZING CIRCUIT, FIRST RELAY MEANS, CIRCUIT MEANS CONNECTING SAID ENERGIZING CIRCUIT TO SAID CONTROL VALVE RESPONSIVE TO ENERGIZATION OF SAID FIRST RELAY MEANS, A HOLDING CIRCUIT FOR SAID FIRST RELAY MEANS CLOSED RESPONSIVE TO THE ENERGIZATION OF SAID FIRST RELAY MEANS, SECOND RELAY MEANS, MEANS OPENING SAID HOLDING CIRCUIT RESPONSIVE TO ENERGIZATION OF SAID SECOND RELAY MEANS, MEANS TO ENERGIZE SAID FIRST RELAY MEANS, AND MEANS TO ENERGIZE SAID SECOND RELAY MEANS RESPONSIVE TO A PREDETERMINED TIME PERIOD OF ENERGIZATION OF SAID FIRST RELAY MEANS, WHEREBY TO OPEN SAID HOLDING CIRCUIT. 